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Context No. 124 of 4322 · Exodus

Context · Reflection

Exodus 37:1-9: in context

1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. 2He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it. 3He cast four rings of gold for it in its four feet—two rings on its one side, and two rings on its other side. 4He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width. 7He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat: 8one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. 9The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.

Exodus gives the instructions for the tabernacle in one long block, and then repeats the whole thing as a construction report: what was commanded, and then what was made. This passage is the building of the ark of the covenant, and it opens with a name.

Bezalel made the ark. He is the craftsman God named earlier, filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge and all kinds of workmanship. That is the first time in the Bible anyone is said to be filled with God's Spirit, and it is said of a man who works in wood, gold, and stone.

The ark is a chest of acacia wood overlaid with gold inside and out, with carrying poles that stay in its rings. On top is the mercy seat of pure gold, and at each end a cherub hammered out of one piece with the cover, wings spread over it and faces turned toward each other, looking down at the lid. Nobody would ever see the inside of the box, and the gold went on the inside anyway. What am I finishing to a standard that only I will ever know about, and have I stopped doing that anywhere?

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